As a matter of fact, there are some things
that you really must leave to a
professional, as they're just too difficult and dangerous otherwise. The DIY
tasks I mean, not the professionals! If you really are determined to 'Do It
Yourself' in 2016, however, I would really, really, really, really recommend the following tips:

Plan
everything carefully!

We've all had those times when we've been
retiling the kitchen only to run out of the tile we need right near the end, or
found ourselves rushing to get all of the wallpapering done by the end of the
day as we underestimated how long it would take - leaving loads of creases in
the paper as a result.

What's the moral here? To plan, plan and
plan again! Decide what exactly you want to do in advance, what you will need
to do it - including all materials and equipment - and how much it will cost.
Leave yourself enough time to get everything done, and be sure to follow all
safety instructions!

Put
together a good toolkit!

With the right toolkit, you will be able to
plough ahead with your home improvement projects without any undignified rush
to B&Q or Wickes to buy something you missed! It should contain such items
as a 5m tape measure, set of screwdrivers, Stanley knife, spirit level and
small adjustable spanner.

If you are worried about making sure that
your toolkit really does contain everything, just buy one of the ready made ones available from stores like Argos. If you've
got a bit more money to spend, you might also want to throw in some
paintbrushes, a large adjustable spanner and stud detector. Those are the
extras I find most useful, anyway!

Use
a ladder correctly!

Stepladders can make such a difference to
your ability to do DIY safely and reach those hard-to-reach spots - so step
make sure you have a decent one before getting to work!

Lightweight aluminium ladders are the best
type, but make sure you engage the locks when you open yours, and when using
it, avoid leaning out sideways too far to prevent yourself toppling over with
the ladder.

Make
sure you're definitely safe!

Again, this is something that I really
can't emphasise enough - "better safe than sorry" and all that! Whatever
you are doing, but especially when you are working with glass, spray paint or
other possibly hazardous materials, you will almost certainly need some protective
clothing, including a dust mask, safety goggles and gloves.

There are some other great common sense
tips to remember - such as always cutting knifes away from you rather than
towards you, and always switching off the power and removing the fuse or circuit
breaker (MCB) before checking or fixing electrical appliances or connections.

I can't cover absolutely everything here
(not least as I'm not a professional), so please, don't be afraid to look up
safety advice from a reputable and professional source before doing DIY work in
2016.

Don't be too scared off by all of this
advice - it's only there to help you to really get into it, while keeping
yourself safe! Join me by spending all of those lovely DIY voucher codes that you
can easily find online, and you'll wonder why you weren't doing it earlier! Good
luck!!